Imagine going on a trip to New York for an exciting long weekend in the big apple. You hail a cab at the airport, crawl inside and tell the driver, “Okay, let’s go!”
Oh, you might go someplace! However, I guarantee that without being specific about where you want to go, it will cost both valuable time and substantial funds. Not knowing your destination(s) for your weekend get-away is a sure way to ruin the entire excursion.
Leading a team is like taking a group on a trip. The trip will be productive if you map out the road to success and tell the travelers where they are headed. One of the hardest competencies of effective leadership is setting that compelling vision. Some leaders fail to set any vision, much less an exciting-to-follow vision.
Without vision, your team may be wandering aimlessly about. Like the trip to New York, they are driving around without clear direction, burning up time, and money.
Many of the leaders that I work with are masters at completing the tasks of the job. It is often why they are promoted to a position of leadership in the first place. They get things done. They know how to deliver! However, even some of these leaders often over-look the importance of setting a clear and compelling vision.
Your team may be busy answering emails and going to meetings, but are they contributing to the bottom line? Are they meeting the goals that your organization has set? Are they compelled by the vision? Are they motivated and excited to make a difference?
A great example of the importance of a captivating vision comes from the history of the USA space program. The United States citizens were fearful in the late 50’s after the Soviets’ launched Sputnik. President Eisenhower created NASA as the United States debated how to respond to the surprise launch. NASA was given specific objectives to carry out, but none were designed to enter a space race with the Soviet Union. In January 1961, the end of the Eisenhower presidential tenure, NASA did not have a clear vision.
JFK wanted to change that apathy and lack of motivation. Plus, the American people were stressed about the safety of the US, not fully understanding the scope of the Soviet spy satellite. JFK’s answer was to set a compelling vision, an easy-to-understand vision, a motivating vision.
Those of us alive in the 60’s knew exactly what that vision was!
Put a man on the moon by end of the decade.
With that easy-to-understand vision, the US put in place education and funding to make our country a leader in space exploration. And so, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong made “one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Want to motivate your people and have your team be enthusiastic and efficient in their use of time? Want to minimize stress? Then state your vision!
To do so, answer the following questions and form your own easy-to-understand and motivating vision:
- Make sure you have a Clear Purpose outlined for your team.
- Who are the Characters? Who are the customers of your team? Who does your team work with daily?
- What are the Problems your team is working to solve?
- How will your team Solve the Problem?
- What is The Change that will happen because of your team?
- What Emotions are felt as you answer each of the above questions? This might seem silly, but if we want people to be motivated by the vision, we need to connect with them emotionally.
- Now wordsmith Your Point. Make it easy to understand.
By following these steps, you can create a compelling, easy-to-understand, and motivating vision for your team. No more wasting time or money! Your team and your effectiveness as a leader will be brilliant and bring about sparkling results.
Please share with me the success of your new vision statement or the challenges; it will help both of us grow and learn!